Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-12-15
MEMORIES OF LINCOLN.
BY "A BROOKLYNITE WHO READ
LAW IN HIS OFFICE.

An Interview with d. Ii. littlehe4as WV
Portrait Painter-Interesting Remin-
iscences of Americas Great COumoner.
IIncoln's Striking characteristics.
Icalled the other day at the studio Of Mr..
J.H. Littlefield on Montague street he was
Just putting the finishing touches upon his
new portrait OF Nr. Beecher, which has since
been exhibited upon Fulton street Mr..
Beecher sat for him during the trial and
again on his 10Th birthday. The conversa-
ton turned TO the days when Mr.. Littletisld
was a student in Mr.. Lincolns oince IN
Springfield, Ills, and one thing led to
another until the following interesting
"reminiscences of Americas great commoner
had been elected
ssYes,n said Mr. Littlefeld, Il was stu
dent in Mr.. Lincoln's Office for over two
wears. and the way came to get there was
very singular indeed. Ny brother, Gen III
S. Littlefeld, was present at one OF the joint
debates at Ottawa, Ills, between Lincoln and
Douglas in the famous canvass for the sena-
atorship in 1855 After the speaking was
over Mr.. Douglas friends took him away
with a brass band and amid great enthusi-
osn. For a moment Mr.. Lincoln stood alone,
then those who sympathized with his senti-
ments and had been greatly affected by his
mastery speech made rush for him and
carried him bodily to his hotel Ny brother
and another Gentleman did most of the carry
ing. and when they had got to the hotel he
sid to AIr. Lincoln: I have a brother whom
l would very much like to have enter your
Office as student AN right was his re-
DIy. send him down and we VIII take a look
at him. was then studying law at Grand
Rapids. Mich, and on hearing from my
brother, Immediately packed up and started
for Springfield. 1 arrived there on Saturday
night and put up at the American house.
On Sunday Mr. Lincoln was pointed out TO
me l well remember this first sight of him.
He was striding along holding little Tad,
then about years old, by the hand, who
could with the greatest difficulty keep up
with his father In the morning applied at
the office of Lincoln & Herndon for edInis-
siCn as a student.
1.-THE morning entered the Office Mr.. Lin
coin and his partner, William d Herndon,
were both present. Mr.. Lincoln addressed
his partner thus: Billie, this Is the young
man of whom l spoke TO you Whatever ar
rangement you make with him viii be salts
factory to me- Then turning to me he said:
4 hope YOU will not become SO enthuslastlcln
YOUR studies of Blackstone and Kent as did
two Young men whom we had here. Do you
see that spot over thereF pointing to large
ink stain on the wall We'll, one Of those
Young men got so enthusiastic in his pursuit
of legal lore that he fred an inkstand at the
other ones head, and that is the mark he
made l Immediately began to clean up
about the Office little. DIR. Lincoln had
been in congress and had the usual amount of
seeds to distribute to the farmers. These
were sent out with Free Soil and Republican
documents. In my efforts to clear up
found that some of the seeds had sprouted In
the dirt that had collected in the Office.
PLEADING A HORSE CASE.
"Judge Logan and Mr. Lincoln were once
engaged on opposite sides Of horse case.
Judge Logan displayeda a great deal of knowl-
edge about horses, and, as was the custom
with lawyers at that day, in the heat Of tie
argument had laid off his coat and vest. I'm
fortunately for him be had put his shirt on
hind side before When he had finished Mr..
Lincoln arose and asked his opponent if he
would please rise. The judge complied.
Will YOU please turn your Back to the jury?
Now, gentlemen of the jury said Lincoln,
what sort of value can you place upon Judge
Logan's knowledge of horses when he doesn't
know enough to put his shirt on right side
foremost when he comes into courtF A roar
of laughter followed this sally, and when Mr..
Lincoln had finished his argument the jury
gave a verdict in his favor.
''Air. Lincoln was engaged in a case which
made great deal Of stir in Illinois while
was student in his Office. One Greek Graf
ton, a strong, burly fellow, was paying at
tentions to young lady living in the vicinity
of Springfield She had another suitor at
the same time by the name Of Quinn Harri-
son. Grafton told Harrison if he didn't cease
his attentions to the young lady he would
thrash him. Harrison replied that if he
made an attack upon him he would defend
himself. Grafton one day came to the post
Office, and, seeing Harrison reading news
paper, threw his arms around him and tried
to hold him. Harrison struggled away, and
drawing dagger, plunged it into Crafton's
vitals Crafton's lawyers claimed on the
trial that he acted in self defense. l was in
the court when Mr.. Lincoln made his speech
before the jury for Harrison. He used this
illustration: In the early days a party of
men went out to hunt the wild boar. When
the game was seen one of the hunters imme-
diabely climbed tree, the other seized the
game by the ears, and after several ineffec-
tual tussles with him he cried to his conpan-
ion, who was up the tree: ''For Gods sake,
Jim, come down and help me to let go.'" Mr..
Lincoln made this application of the story.
IF Grafton took hold of Harrison in self dc
fense it follows logically that he would hav
to continue to hold him for all time, and thls
eventually he would require some one to help
him let CO. The jury gave a verdict of ac-
quittal for Mr. Lincoln's client.
''AIr. Lincoln was an indefatigable news
paper reader and was noted for his IA
miliarity with political affairs in all parts of
the country He subscribed for several
papers published in the south-one, know,
came from South Carolina. He had an in
Vulnerable number of anecdotes of public
men always at the end Of his tongue. He had
great tenacity of memory, and once a fact
was fixed in his mind he never forgot it.
His fondnesS for telling stories is often al
luded to, but he possessed a certain dignity
that prevented persons from going only just
SO far with them. People called him Uncle
Abe long before he was nominated for the
presidency, and often have seen him sitting
on the steps of stores chatting with his
friends As a relaxation from professional
cares he would go ont and play ball. The
game was what was called barn ball, and it
consisted in knocking the ball against the
side of building and then hitting it again
on the rebound. / have seen Mr.. Lincoln go
into this sport with a great deal of zest.
Notwithstanding his love for good stories
and funny sayings he usually had forloru
expression on his face and appeared many
times to be in a brown study. One of his
striking characteristics was simplicity, and
nowhere was this trait more strikingly ex-
hibited than in his willingness to receive in
struction from anybody and everybody"
AN ADEPT AT STORY TELLING.
"It was customary for Mr.. Lincoln, in the
practice of his profession, to ride on horse
back to distant courts to argue cases. Heput
up at cou,'.:y inns, and meeting lawyers
and judges, they amused themselves in tell
ing stories, and in this art-and it is an art
MIR. Lincoln became an adept One day,
remember, he had just got in from one Of
these extended trips when heard him say to
his partner: Billie, heard good story
while was up in the country. Judge B. was
complimenting the landlord on the excel
lence of his beef. 81 am surprised, u he said,
that you have such good beef. You must
have to kill a whole critter every time you
want any," 'Yes," said the landlord, ''we
never kill less than a whole critter"' Mr..
Lincoln was a member of the Sons of Tenn
perance and at one time delivered temper